Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 9:40 AM

I thought about putting this post up before the Miami series began but I was afraid of jinxing the darn Pistons but I think at this point there is little worry when it comes to that. The Pistons have had about as rough as a stretch as we have seen this season and you can go back all the way to the fourth quarter of game 2 against the Cavs to where it began. Jinxing them? Why bother now, I mean, how much worse can it get? The Pistons have not had a crisp offensive game in quite awhile and something tells me they are about to break out because if they don’t this will be a very long off season. Anyway this post is simply to compare something I noticed with the similarities thus far between their title run in 2004 and what we all hope will still be a successful title run this season.

Round One – Milwaukee Bucks = Win games #1 and #2, lose # three pretty bad and take #4 and #5. Pistons win series 4-1.

2004:

Round Two – New Jersey Nets – look really good in the first two games and suddenly lose the next three to go down 3-2. Have to win Game #6 on the road and do, but it was close. Come home for game #7 and take it running away.

2006:

Round Two – Cleveland Cavaliers – look really good in the first two games and suddenly lose the next three to go down 3-2. Have to win Game #6 on the road and do, but it was close. Come home for game #7 and take it running away.

2004:

Eastern Conference Finals – lose game one against the Pacers and almost lose game #2 until Prince delivers “the block heard around the world” on Reggie Miller. The Pistons took game #2 and #3, lose game #4 but win #5 and #6 to go to the Finals.

2006:

Eastern Conference Finals – lose game #1 against the Heat… will they take game #2? I guess if history is repeating itself here we will know by about ten tonight.

Look, I have not given up hope yet, but they really need to have a smooth looking offensive game tonight to restore some faith in everyone around here. Tonight is truly a must win game, old cliché I know, but 2-0 to the Heat is not 2-0 to some lesser teams and as much as I love them I don’t see them erasing that deficit against these guys.

Later – the hopeful sports dude.

Monday, May 22, 2006 at 1:39 PM

Well the playoff beard gets to stay around for at least another week but let me tell you I really just had this feeling it was going to be gone this weekend. God bless my wife for putting up with my silly little superstitions because this thing is really starting to look nappy now let me tell you! Remember Pau Gasol and Jake Plummer, remember those damn things? Yeah, I am right up there with them except mine is a little on the red side. In fact, that Russian fella the Cavs had, Ilgauskas, mine was right up there with his too. See when I first started this tradition a couple years ago the beard was still in its beginning stages and didn’t grow this fast so it was not quite as nappy as it is now in such great speed! But alas, a superstition is a superstition and until it proves me wrong I will not stray even if I end up looking like the new member of this band. Anyway enough about my facial hair and here are my quick thoughts on the game:

Chauncey – the next time you want to tip a purposely missed free throw could you do it away from the opposing teams rim? Watching that ball bounce like that was the longest second of my life.

Tayshaun – he will make the All-Star team next year, the kid is finally showing everyone nationally what he can do.

Flip – although it took you about five games and being on the brink of truly being known as a great regular season coach I must say nice adjustments and it was about time. Oh, one last thing, see what happens when you use the bench a little bit more, you went nine deep and the starters were much more fresh for the closing minutes. You will need Davis and Delfino this series so don’t be afraid to go eleven.

Lastly was this a wake up call or a sign of the end coming? Me I like to say a wake up call and if the Pistons can look like this against Miami then I like their chances. However if they lose their identity again, like they did against the Cavs, the Heat are not going to let them back in this thing. Remember how you played the Big Fella’ last year, let him dunk all over you in the first half because by the second half he will be on the oxygen machine gasping for air. Also just because you won the season series 3-1 does not guarantee anything, you also won the season series 3-1 against the Cavs.

Okay, enough yapping, remember ugly ball is you style, if Stern and the League TV people don’t like it tough crap, when you are holding the Larry O’Brien you can shove it up the… see what I am saying? If ugly wins it who cares at least you won it. Damn it these last two games have been Detroit Basketball, remember it and keep it going – later – the sports dude.